November 23rd, 2004

The film, “Beyond the Gates of Splendor,” opened in select theaters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa on November 5, 2004. The documentary will expand to major U.S. cities during 2005. Producer, Every Tribe Entertainment’s award-winning documentary-drama is the true story of five young missionaries who were brutally speared to death by a savage Ecuadorian tribe in 1956—and the remarkable forgiveness and reconciliation that followed.

“We’re very excited about the release of ‘Beyond the Gates’,” said Mart Green, CEO of the Oklahoma City-based company. “This release is the culmination of a five-year journey by our team. The story of ‘Beyond the Gates’ is the most remarkable example of triumph from tragedy, and reconciliation over revenge.”

Set in the Amazon Basin of Ecuador, Beyond the Gates tells the story of the Waodani, a violent and isolated tribe—the most violent culture known to man with a homicide rate of 60%—and five North American families who contacted them. All five of the North American men were killed by Waodani tribesmen.

“Following the killings, the wife of one of the men and the sister of another went to live with the Waodani. Soon after the killings and the new relationships forged with the families, the homicide rate in the tribe was reduced to virtually zero. Viewers of the film will experience other real-life twists in a script Hollywood could never write. ‘Beyond the Gates’ juxtaposes interviews with the surviving principals in the 1956 drama—including the five widows of the slain missionaries, their children, rescue workers and the surviving killers—with vintage 16mm film and still photos shot by the missionaries themselves in the Ecuador jungle.”

Directed by Jim Hanon and produced by Kevin McAfee, “Beyond the Gates…” is winner of the Crystal Heart award at the Heartland Film Festival, which recognizes excellence for “truly moving pictures,” and Audience Favorite at the Palm Beach Film Festival.The Indianapolis Star says ‘Beyond the Gates’ ”tells and unforgettable story of the transformational power of love and how faith can find light in the most tragic, painful, dark incidents.”

In first quarter 2005, Every Tribe Entertainment will release “Beyond the Gates…” in Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles, with other major cities to follow. More information can be found on the movie Web site: BeyondTheGatesTheMovie.com